Some hillclimbing/saloon racing info.

[tigran]

Hey peeps. I'm gagging to get into some form of competitive motorsport and am thinking of building a car over the summer to required regulations. I am already on the case regarding getting my MSA National B license and ARDS training. On this front has the go pack changed much lately? I have one kicking about from 2001 when i was starting T-cars, wondering if i should get hold of another one.

I'm trying to ponder what racing to start in - it has to be in a saloon of some sort (for anyone who's seen the size of me this will make sense). But which one? Also can hillclimbing be done competitively in a saloon car?

Thanks for any ideas or pointers on the subject peeps.

[rob0r]

Not sure this is what you want, but I have a real hankering to start doing the production BMW cup
www.pbmwc.co.uk/index.htm

They race 318i and 320i E30s, and although they won't set the world alight it's very competitive. Cars are track prepped but engines are kept as standard so it's broadly similar across the field. If I could afford it, I'd love to do it. Good thing about the cars, you can pick them up for peanuts.

[bodieanddoyle]

rob- although it can be buttons, my mate has just finished his race 320i. at a staggering cost of £13000

I'm sure adam will be along with the hillclimb knowledge
I drive far too badly to get all serious about these things

[HoTWire]

Yes hillclimbing can be done competatively in a saloon car,.. in fact you can do it in a pretty stock car very cheaply.

I'd say hillclimbing is pretty much the cheapest way to get into speed based motorsport (or at least one with corners )...

[tigran]

Cool. That's exactly the kind of thing i was thinking of! Will have a gander through the literature.

[rob0r]

May 27, 2008 20:16:50 GMT bodieanddoyle said:

rob- although it can be buttons, my mate has just finished his race 320i. at a staggering cost of £13000

I expected it to be a lot, but not that much!

[swollen]

Dude, still waiting on my nat b licence to come through... missed a sprint at the w/e because I was far too lazy to apply in time...

You'll get the blue book of regs through with your licence that covers all 2008 regs...

there are lots of classes for hillclimbing... from production road going cars, just need an MOT (legal helmet and overalls as well of course), through modified production up to single seater types, all covered in the blue book.

[tigran]

Sorry that was related to rob's post. I have just had a read through the pbmwc pages and it seems absolutely spot on for what i'm looking for.

Ed i'm guessin that figure is for an experienced driver wanting to win the title. I'm just looking for a series to get rid of the black X that will be on the back of my car and learn some racecraft. Just looking at the details of the 2009 season.

Will hold out for any hillclimb advice - or if anyone knows of any series that would be letting in a '88 900 T16. As i was pondering turning that into a racer in the first place (even if it is wrong wheel drive).

[tigran]

Also pondering how flexible the modified production hillclimbing is. As i'm looking to either use my 900 or if not then see what would allow entry to a DET powered viva that's prepped to the reg's.

[tri]

Related question about hillclimbing, hope it doesn't feel like a thread hijack:

With hillclimbing - do people particularly frown upon fwd cars participating, or is it just less fun?

[Anglia68]

May 27, 2008 22:03:11 GMT tri said:

Related question about hillclimbing, hope it doesn't feel like a thread hijack:

With hillclimbing - do people particularly frown upon fwd cars participating, or is it just less fun?

FWD probably makes up the majority now in the saloon based classes so they are more than welcome.

[Anglia68]

May 27, 2008 20:47:47 GMT tigran said:

Also pondering how flexible the modified production hillclimbing is. As i'm looking to either use my 900 or if not then see what would allow entry to a DET powered viva that's prepped to the reg's.

From what I remember about the regs the car has to have the original type of engine otherwise it could end up in Formula Libre or a similer class where anything goes.

[tigran]

Hmm having looked at all the details of the pbmwc it seems that's probably a bloody good starter series, as i'd prefer to do track based stuff rather than sprint/hillclimbing.

Next step; get a National B license, then start looking for a car.

[Team Blitz]

May 27, 2008 20:17:10 GMT HoTWire said:

I'd say hillclimbing is pretty much the cheapest way to get into speed based motorsport (or at least one with corners )...

Eh? Don't you lot have parking lot gymkhanas over there? We call them autocrosses. No cage, no fuel cells, no race tires, just a helmet, good condition tires, battery secured, and they'll wedge you into a class for anything street-licensed. For the trailer set, formula cars and full-tilt racing sedans are also classified, with extravagant mods.

Here's a couple links explaining the sport, which is the least expensive way to carve corners in organized competitions:
sccaforums.com/programs/autocross/faq.aspx#102
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocross

[HoTWire]

May 28, 2008 1:31:54 GMT Team Blitz said:

May 27, 2008 20:17:10 GMT HoTWire said:

I'd say hillclimbing is pretty much the cheapest way to get into speed based motorsport (or at least one with corners )...

Eh? Don't you lot have parking lot gymkhanas over there? We call them autocrosses. No cage, no fuel cells, no race tires, just a helmet, good condition tires, battery secured, and they'll wedge you into a class for anything street-licensed. For the trailer set, formula cars and full-tilt racing sedans are also classified, with extravagant mods.

Here's a couple links explaining the sport, which is the least expensive way to carve corners in organized competitions:
sccaforums.com/programs/autocross/faq.aspx#102
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocross

Yes,.. yes we do,.. which is why I made sure I added "speed based" motorsport .. then added the corners thing because arguably drag racing is cheaper to get started in than hillclimbing.

Autocross is a Great and cost effective way to do a motorsport though. Thats for sure.


As for hillclimbing and sprinting, Class A : Production Road Cars is the cheapest to get into, I believe you need a roll over bar, although a cage is reccommended (however you can't remove any of the interior trim, so it can get a bit tricky to fit).

I'm somewhat put off by circuit racing, because it can start out looking cost effective, but is so damned expensive all in.. also the race entry costs now days are getting ludicrous...

[Adam]

Racing and Hillclimbing are two completely different kettles of fish.

For racing you must have FIA approved harnesses, cage, plumbed fire extinguisher and many other expensive parts in order to take part. Prepping a car for circuit racing is a huge which will never be cheap!

For hillclimbing all you need is a car, race suit and helmet and they'll fit you in. Oh and you only need a national B non-race license.

[penski]

Y'know how the Escort boys run N/A YBs in modprod under the guise of them being a '16v pinto'?

Some Kadett Cs came with CIH lumps...

...

So a Kadett C with 2.4 CIH and cut down 24v Senny head would also run in modprod...?

*n

[DutyFreeSaviour]

I id think that prod BMW cup was tempting, but the GF wouldn't go for me spending that ( plus travelling back n forth for it ) yearly.
No real hills in Belgium so that one's out too

Get the SD1 out with the historic touring cars ;D

[Frankenhealey]

Tigran,

I would recommend a training course before turning up on a hill and then you could at least see if you like it and you can do it in any car with a current MOT. Closest to Bornmouf is the very friendly Gurston Down just outside Salisbury. They do 3 / 4 training sessions a year. The website is www.gurstondown.org/school.htm and the course is £150 but well worth it and if you can do Gurston well you can do just about any hillclimb in the country ;D

[HoTWire]

Gurston is where I hope to compete as well... definitely doing the course before I have a go at it though